Collection: Thaumatropes

The Magic of the Thaumatrope

The thaumatrope, a simple toy invented in 1824 by English physician John Ayrton Paris, was the very first step toward the world of animation. Paris used this spinning disc to demonstrate the principle of persistence of vision — the idea that our eyes blend rapidly moving images into one, creating the illusion of motion. What was once a scientific tool soon became a charming amusement, a precursor to the magic of movies.

My handcrafted pyrography thaumotropes bring this age-old invention to life in a new, enchanting way. Each wooden disc is intricately burned with scenes from myth, folklore, and dreamlike tales — whether it's the tragic Nightingale and the Rose or the playful chase between the fox and hare. As the disc spins, the art seems to come alive, blending into a single, mesmerizing image, just as Paris' invention once demonstrated the magic of motion.

Where Paris’ original thaumatrope was a simple experiment, my designs are little windows into a world of wonder, where myth and vision collide. Crafted with sustainable materials and detailed by hand, these spinning tales are not just toys, but stories in motion — where art, history, and magic twirl together in perfect harmony.